"You stupid Nord..."

Talayth hissed the words, watching from behind a few barrels as he sped off on his horse. Who the hell did he think he was, plucking strangers out of the snow and putting them in his bed. How revolting. She didn't know why the stranger had picked her up, and frankly she didn't care. He was probably a bandit, looking for coin on her corpse. Or maybe he intended to hold her for ransom. Or perhaps he was a murderer.

She stopped. A murderer, just like her. Talayth touched her face lightly, feeling dried blood caked on her skin. It wasn't the blood of an innocent, but it still felt just as sinful. Her father would have been so ashamed...

She crouched behind the barrels for just a bit longer, listening to the sound of hooves on stone fade away. Wincing as she stood, Talayth slowly approached the porch of the inn, tripping on the bottom step and nearly falling onto her back. Pulling her tattered dress in frustration, she shielded her eyes from the early morning sun and gazed at the sign before her.

Braidwood Inn. Never heard of it.

The air was still crisp, but snow wasn't falling. The ground was strangly clear as well; she could actually see plants. The inn was a clearly a good distance away from Windhelm, but it didn't fill her with safety. She was a wanted criminal. Who's to say they wouldn't send someone after her? She couldn't just sit and dawdle, she needed to get out of Skyrim.

Talayth shivered, standing idly on the porch of the inn. Even out of Windhelm, it was still freezing outside. And a tavern dress did nothing to fight off the bite of the cold. Perhaps she could slip into the inn for awhile. All warm and cozy, stocked with plenty of food and even better than that- mead. Did the innkeeper see her face?

You idiot they dragged you in there while you were unconscious, of course he saw your face. You made a big scene in his inn just moments ago. Why would he help you?

It was fine. She had endured worse. A little bad weather wouldn't slow her down. She would be just fine on her own. She didn't need help from the stupid Nord...

Talayth went inside anyway.

The gust of heat that hit her was pleasant; she had almost smiled before her eyes landed on the gruff innkeeper. She hadn't really paid attention to him when she had ran away from her assailant. Frankly he wasn't a pretty sight. Tan skin that sagged from age, and a long, stringy blonde-grey hair with a matching mustache. All of that was topped off with a layer of dirt and grime covering his body. What a very ugly Nord.

And the way he was staring at Talayth, he must have thought the same of her. Her dress was filthy and blood was caked all over. And after running a hand through her hair, she was convinced she looked worse than even she knew.

She approached the bar slowly, wondering whether or not coming inside was a good idea. The man was wiping a mug with a dirty rag, a painful reminder of the life she used to have. He didn't seem to be focused on her work, staring Talayth down with something she couldn't comprehend. It certainly wasn't relief.

"It's you."

She stiffened instantly. "What's that suppose to mean?"

He blinked as if he didn't understand a thing. "It means you're the elf that ran out of my inn screaming." The man slid the tankard aside lazily. "You leave somethin' behind?"

So he doesn't know what I've done. Maybe news hasn't traveled.

"No," she replied. "I just wanted to ask about that man. The one who brought me here."

"Endric. A strange fellow, but kind enough. Said he found you layin' in the snow in the middle of nowhere. Didn't feel right just leavin' you there."

"Oh."

Liar. To hell with all of you. No Nord would go out of their way for a Dark Elf.

The innkeeper threw his rag down, leaning his elbows onto the bar. Exhaustion was set deep into his eyes. Talayth wondered just how much trouble her arrival had caused. If he knew why she had ran, things would be even worse. She may not have liked Nords, but her father raised her to be kind to others, even enemies. He wouldn't approve of how she had been living her life.

"Look here, you don't have a septim to your name, and I don't have coin to spare-"

Talayth snorted at his words. "As If I want pity from you, Nord."

"-but I'm willing to give you some necessities free of charge."

She blinked, taken back. "What?"

The innkeeper seemed almost agitated to explain, his cheeks puffy and pink. "The last thing I need is stories to spread about how someone died in my establishment. I ain't going to send you out there with nothing but a dress to your name. You can have some food on the house. And my wife might have some clothes to fit."

"I... Thank you."

...Damn. I feel guilty.

She wanted to shout in his face. Tear that filthy rag from his hands and beat him with it. But guilt won over, and instead she mumbled a brief thank you and sat down at the farthest table. As she waited for the Innkeeper to collect her new things, wife made her presence known. An older woman with dark hair and lined skin. She eyed Talayth with curiosity, but not hatred. Talayth refused to look up. She took the food from her hands graciously; bread and cabbage stew. It was only after she had wolfed down most of the food that she realized how famished her body was. She never had food like this back in the Grey Quarters...

What had she done to earn this? Murdered a man, and earned food and comfort in exchange. The price of committing a crime it seemed.

She didn't regret it, killing that man. Not in the slightest. Thinking back, she remembered how she was convinced that her father would be disappointed. But if he'd known the situation, perhaps he would feel different. He was a heartless fiend, a damnation. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that if they events had replayed before her, she would have used the dagger again. She was a criminal, but a justified one. He deserved to die.

And she deserved to live. Screw Nord law. She had struggled enough, and she wasn't bowing down now. She'd make her life work, even if it meant leaving her home for good.

No. That's stupid to think. Who is to say they won't go past Windhelm?

It was a chance. She was lucky enough that the Innkeeper didn't know her mistake yet. But not everyone would so dimwitted. She was covered in blood for crying out loud. Someone would make the assumption. Someone would know it was her.
"Here are your clothes."

Talayth practically flipped out of her chair at the voice in her ear. She hissed at the Innkeeper's wife, before looking away in embarrassment as she handed her the fresh pair of dresses, much nicer than the original. A soft blue with white lining, and a light brown with stitches around the seams. She had a feeling that the set was worth more than anything she owned. She hated showing kindness.

She received a small satchel of food as well, to which she had to force herself not to gawk at. And after a one last gracious gift of a heavy fur cloak and a few Septims, they pushed her towards the door. They might have been supportive, but they still wanted her the hell out of their inn.
Swinging her hair out of the way, she took a step before stopping. The innkeeper looked about anxiously, as if they were ready for her to turn rabid. But instead, she asked for one last favor.

"I had a dagger with me before I came here, but I lost it. I don't suppose you have one that I could borrow for a moment?"

He blanched and stepped away with fear, but the wife shook it off and reached in to reveal a knife from her dress pocket. She took it and stepped back into the chilly air, before stopping to explain.

"I just need one minute."

She didn't stop to see if they were watching. Leaning over the side of the porch, she took the dagger to her neck-

And all of her hair, long and flowing, was cut by the knife. She shredded what she could, leaving her bangs for comfort. Bundling it in her hands, she tossed it into the wind, black strands splayed across the sky.

Talayth had cut her hair for convenience. But also for change. Anything to keep her from looking like who she used to be. It wasn't as if her mother would be caressing her hair anymore.

She handed the dagger back after plucking a few strands from the blade. The innkeeper stared, but didn't question, wrapping his fingers around both the dagger and her hand.

"Keep it."

She stared, but nodded. "Thank you."

"Head to Riften." He nodded in the direction. "It's close. And whatever you're running from, maybe it won't chase you there. Just watch the thieves."

She didn't respond. Just hoped they could see how thankful she was. As thankful as she could ever be for a Nord. She didn't know how to show appreciation for something like this...

It was time to go. She slung the satchel over her back, tentatively touched her now short hair, and stepped back into the outside world. Talayth sighed.

Time to go to Riften